George Clarke says UK housing stock is ‘worse than 100 years ago’

Architect and TV presenter George Clarke has launched a blistering critique of Britain’s housing system, warning that today’s homes are often lower quality than those built a century ago.

He argues that the crisis isn’t simply about numbers, but about poor design, rushed developments, and broken political promises that have left communities disillusioned and young people locked out of ownership.

For those disillusioned with the system, building a house yourself – whether through a self-build or custom-build route – may be the most practical path to homeownership.

A crisis built on poor quality, not just shortages

While the Government continues to chase ambitious housing targets, Clarke says the real issue lies in the quality of construction.

“If new-build developments were of a higher quality, fewer people would be against them,” he insists. Many new homes are being built at speed with minimal attention to design or durability, particularly on the outskirts of towns and villages.

This has intensified public opposition and fuelled a surge in so-called Nimbyism – not necessarily because people oppose housing, Clarke suggests, but because they’re tired of uninspired and substandard developments.

However, Clarke says that self-builders can take control of their housing future by understanding how much it costs to build a house, securing a self-build mortgage, or managing their project with a detailed schedule.

Politicians talk, but promises keep collapsing

Clarke believes successive governments have mishandled housing policy by prioritising unrealistic numbers over meaningful reform.

Despite repeated pledges – from large-scale development plans to “beautiful building” commissions – there has been little long-term action. Clarke recalls conversations with senior politicians that seemed promising, but ultimately led nowhere.

As a result, he says the UK’s housing strategy has become fragmented and reactive, lacking the long-term vision needed to tackle affordability and accessibility.

‘Build better, not just more’: A call for design-led reform

Clarke wants the UK to follow the example of countries like Denmark, where good design is seen as essential, not optional.

He is pushing for a 30-year cross-party plan focused on building well-designed housing on public land – a shift he believes could restore public trust and reduce resistance to new developments.

Clarke says to build better here, individuals can consider energy-efficient options like eco homes, explore materials with lower embodied carbon, or construct using modern systems like SIPs or cross-laminated timber.

Without that, he fears his own children, like many in their generation, will never own a home. “If we’re going to build, we have to build well,” he says. “It’s the only way to fix this.”